Apparatus for simultaneously processing and washing photographic prints or negatives



March 13, 1956 B KLEIN APPARATUS FOR SIMULTANEOUSLYPROCESSING AND WASHING PHOTOGRAPHIC PRINTS OR NEGATIVES Filed Nov 18 1952 IN V EN T08. M,

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United States PatentO APPARATUS FOR SIMULTANEOUSLY PROCESS- ING AND WASHING PHOTOGRAPHIC PRINTS R NEGATIVES Bernard Klein, Joliet, 111.

Application November 18, 1952, Serial No. 321,225 3 Claims. (Cl. 95-89) This invention relates to an apparatus for simultaneously processing and washing photographic prints or negatives. It is particularly adapted for amateur darkroom use because of the multi-purpose feature of the apparatus, but it can also be advantageously employed for small-scale commercial production.

This application is a continuation-in-part of my prior co-pending application, Serial No. 152,535, filed March 29, 1950, and now abandoned. V 4

The preparation of photographic prints and negatives usually involves three distinct operations, which are often referred to as developing, fixing, and washing. For the purposes of this application the term processing will be used to designate the operations in which .the print or negative is treated in a chemical bath, that is, either the developing or fixing operation. The washing operation is usually carried out with tap water, and therefore the preparing of photographic prints or negatives canbe said to generally involve both processing and washing operations.

Heretofore no apparatus has been provided fors'imultaneously processing and washing photographic prints or negatives. Therefore, the provision of such an apparatus is the principal object of this invention. Other specific objects and advantages will appear as the specification proceeds.

This invention is shown in an illustrative embodiment in the accompanying drawing, in which- Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an apparatusconstructed in accordance with the principles of this invention, showing the apparatus under actual conditions of use; Fig. 2, a plan view of the apparatus of Fig. 1; Fig. 3, an end 2,737,865 Patented Mar. 13, 1956 a removable platform 11, and smaller inner processing trays 12 and 13. The use of two inner processing trays is preferred, since it permits the developing operation to becarried out in one processing tray, while the fixing operation can be carried out in the other processing "tray. However, if desired, one inner processing tray or more than two trays can be employed.

Outer tray 10.is preferably of a rectangular shape,'as shown, and has its end panels 10a and 10b ofconsiderably shorter length than its side panels 10c and 10d. One end panel of tray 10, for example, end panel 1 0a,is preferably equippedwith an inlet port 14 near the bottom of one end thereof, and at least one considerably larger outlet port 15 located at a higher level at the other end of end panel 10a. In the illustration. given, inlet port 14 is equipped with an outwardly-extending nipple 16 adapted to Provide a hose or conduit connection. Outlet port 15 is also provided with an outwardly-extending nipple 17.-

A wide variety of means can be provided for supporting processing trays 12 and 13 at a spaced distance above the bottom of processing tray 12, while providing space beneath the processing trays for washing photographic prints. Preferably, the means provided is arranged to permit relatively free circulation of the waterbeneath the processing trays, and also so that the space beneath the processing trays is accessible for the introduction of prints or negatives without lifting or moving the processing. trays. In the illustration given, there is shown a platform 11 provided along its sides with spaced legs 18, and having openends. As seen more clearly in Figs. 3 and 4, legs 18 have thin, downwardly-extending portions 18a and outwardly-turned feet portions 18b. Downwa'rdlyextending portions 18a are preferably aligned in generally parallel relation to sides 10c and 10d of outer tray 10. Legs 18 are preferably dimensioned so that the top surface of platform 11 is supported intermediately between the center of inlet 14 and outlet 15, as shown more clearly in Fig. 3.

For some purposes, it may be desirable to remove platform 11 and processing trays 12 and 13 from outer tray 10. For example, this might be done when it was desired a to employ tray 10 only for washing a large number of elevational view of the apparatus of Fig. 1, showing the photographic prints or negatives beneath the tray-supporting platform.

In one of its aspects this invention involves the idea of providing nested shallow trays with the inner tray or trays supported at a spaced distancefrom the bottom of the outer tray. By arranging the inlet and outlet ports for passing fluid (water) continuously through the main or outer tray, it has been found possible to control the temperature of the processing solution in the inner tray, whileproviding thorough washing of the prints beneath the inner processing tray. In other words, the structure of=thisinvention provides a solution both to the problem of temperature control in the processing bath or baths, as well as to the problem of achieving thorough agitation within a washing solution. The structural features by which these and other results are accomplished will now be explained in detail.

Looking first at Fig. 1 of the drawing, there is shown an apparatus A for simultaneously processing and washing photographic prints or negatives. Apparatus A has as its main elements a shallow outer or main tray 10,

photographic prints or negatives. For the purpose of making tray 10 more adaptable for such use, it is provided with an auxiliary outlet port 19, which is of the same size as outlet port 15 but located at a somewhat higher level. If desired, outlet port 19 can be equipped with a cylindrical screen 20 to prevent the prints from plugging up the outlet. It is preferred to provide outlet 19 with an externally-projecting nipple 21. In the illustration given,

nipple 21 as well as nipple 17 is externally threaded so that a cap 22can be received thereon, thus permitting the outlets to be used alternately.

Operation Atypical method of operating apparatus A is shown in Fig. l. The apparatus is shown resting on a drainboard 23 with its inlet and outlet equipped end panel 10a adjacent and somewhat overhanging sink ,24. The sink is shown as provided with a mixing faucet 25 of a well known type, which discharges into an outlet nozzle 26. Outlet nozzle 26 is connected by means of hose 27 to inlet nipple 16, so that the water from faucet 25 discharges into inlet port 14. .Outlet nipple 17 is arranged to dischage into sink 24, and outlet port 19 is closed by means of cap 22.

With this arrangement, a fluid level will be maintained within tray 10 approximatey as indicated in Fig. 4. In other words, the processing trays 12 and 13 sit within the body of circulating fluid, but are so positioned that they do not tend to float or shift on platform 11. By having inlet port 14 located below the level of the fluid and of considerably smaller diameter than outlet port 15, it is possible to introduce the circulating water under considerable pressure so that the currents passing under the processing trays and beneath platform 11 are both rapid and forceful. Furthermore, the location of the inlet and outlet ports adjacent opposite corners of end panel 1011 creates circulating U-shaped currents which have been found to be uniquely effective in promoting the washing of the prints. Thorough agitation of the prints is achieved by having them positioned between streams of fluid moving in opposite directions at different levels. This produces a continual fluttering of the prints so that even though they are confined within a small space they are continualy separated so that new portions of the washing fluid can flow between the prints, even though they are piled on top of each other.

The desired current pattern is indicated generally by the arrows in Fig. 2, and the result of this current pat.- tern in fluttering or agitating the prints is indicated in Fig. 4. The prints or negatives are designated in Fig. 4 by the referencenumber 28, and are shown as they would appear beneath the platform 11 during the washing operation. In the structure shown, platform legs 18 not only support the platform at the desired level but also serve as directing vanes to maintain the desired current pattern for washing the prints or negatives within the re.- stricted area beneath platform 11.

In a typical use of apparatus A, processing tray l3 might be filled with developing solution, and processing tray 12 filled with fixing solution. The prints or negatives would then first be introduced into processing tray 13 for the developingoperation, and thereafter would be moved to processing tray 12 for the fixing operation. After the completion of the fixing operation, the prints or negatives would be removed from tray 2 and inserted into the washing space beneath platform 11 through one of the open ends of the platform. With the progressive advance of the prints or negatives from tray 13 to tray 12 to the washing space beneath platform 11, a new group of prints or negatives could be successively processed. Thus it is apparent with the apparatus of this invention, the processing and washing of photographic prints or negatives can be carried on simultaneously. The prints or negatives can remain as long as desired beneath platform 11, and upon the completion of the use of the apparatus the washed prints can be easily recovered by removing platform 11.

As indicated previously, the apparatus of this invention also achieves effective temperature control of both the processing baths in trays 12 and 13, as well as of the washing fluid circulated beneath and around these trays. This is achieved by adjusting mixing faucet 25 so that the correct relative amount of cold and hot water is discharged through outlet nozzle 26. Furthermore, this arrangement permits rapid changes in temperature to be produced when desired. It has been found possible to go from one temperature to another with precise control.

It has also been found that the circulating U-shaped current pattern is assisted by having the remote corners of tray 10 distinctly rounded. In the illustration given, this is shown more clearly in Fig. 2 by rounded corners lite and 10 While in the foregoing specifications this invention has been described in considerable detail in relation to one embodiment thereof, it will be readily apparent to t we test those skilled in the art that this invention is capable of other embodiments and that the specific details set forth can be varied widely without departing from the spirit of the invention.

1 claim:

1. In an apparatus for simultaneously processing and washing photographic prints or negatives, the combination comprising a shallow main tray having an inlet port near the bottom of an end of one side thereof and at least one considerably larger outlet port located at a higher level near the outer end of the same side thereof, whereby a constant level of swirling fluid can be maintained in said tray by introducing the fluid under pressure below the surface of said fluid and creating circulating U-shaped currents therein, and a removable platform supported within said main tray in upwardly-spaced, parallel alignment with the bottom of said main tray, said platform being supported at a level between the lower and upper levels respectively of said inlet and outlet ports, the upper surface of said platform being adapted to support a smaller processing tray in nested relation with said main tray, the space between said platform and said tray bottom being open so that said U-shaped currents can circulate freely therewithin for washing said photographic prints or negatives, and said space being accessible without lifting said platform for the introduction of said prints or negatives beneath said platform.

2. The combination of claim 1 in which said main tray has a second vertically-spaced and considerably larger outlet port located above said other outlet port while otherwise being in the same relation to said inlet port, and in which said platform is provided with thin, elongated legs about the periphery thereof for supporting said platform, said legs being aligned with respect to said inlet and outlet ports to assist in maintaining said circulating U-shaped currents.

3. A multi-purpose photo processing unit, comprising in combination a shallow main tray having an inlet port near the bottom of an end of one side thereof and at least one considerably larger outlet port located at a higher level near the other end of the same side thereof, whereby a constant level of swirling fluid can be maintained in said tray by introducing the fluid under pressure below the Surface of said fluid and creating circulating U-shaped currents therein, a smaller processing tray removably nested inside of said main tray having its bottom below the level of said outlet port and above the level of said inlet port, and means for supporting said smaller processing tray at said level While providing an open space between the bottom of said main tray and the bottom of said smaller processing tray within which said U-shaped currents can freely circulate for washing said photographic prints or negatives, said space being accessible without lifting said smaller processing tray for the intro duction of said prints or negatives to said space.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 124,369 Messenger Mar. 5, 1872 906,491 Gold Dec. 8, 1908 1,810,790 Riggle June 16, 1931 2,386,781 Daly Oct. 16, 1945 2,440,314 Turner Apr. 27, 1948 2,551,892 Mitchell May 8, 1951 2,562,588 Traiber July 31, 1951 

